Bistable polarized interrupter with remote control and respective system of utilization



June 30, 1970 w. D. PICCHIA ET AL 3,518,497

BISTABLE POLARIZED INTERRUPTER WITH REMOTE CONTROL AND RESPECTIVE SYSTEM OF UTILIZATION Filed May 11. 1966 United States Patent Oflice 3,518,497 Patented June 30, 1970 BISTABLE POLARIZED INTERRUPTER WITH REMOTE CONTROL AND RESPECTIVE SYS- TEM OF UTILIZATION Walter Del Picchia, Rua Corau 40, Apt. 1, and Wagner EVaneIck Martins, Rua Itauna 155, both of Sao Paulo,

razi

Filed May 11, 1966, Ser. No. 549,300 Claims priority, application Brazil, Sept. 21, 1965, 173,338 Int. Cl. H0111 47/00 US. Cl. 317150 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A bistable polarized remote control switch comprises two coils on cores of mild iron, a displaceable switch blade with contact tablets, and structure holding the cores and coils together including ends constituting contact points. The displaceable switch blade has, in a central part, two cores ringed by permanent magnets, one core on each side of the blade and having opposite polarities. Inside each ringed core, on both sides of the blade, a contact tablet is provided for making contact with a contact point.

The present invention relates to a bistable polarized interrupter adapted for being controlled from a remote location.

An object of the invention is to provide such an interrupter which is eflicient and of simple construction.

The bistable polarized interrupter, controlled at a distance, is constituted by: p

(a) a controlling coil B or simply a coil;

(b) a switch device of the reversible key type (CR). It should be noted that CR will constitute two contact devices of the flip-flop type, dual mechanical (F and F).

Several embodiments of devices according to the invention are illustrated in the appended drawing, wherein FIG. 1 is a diametral section taken through one embodiment of a device,

FIG. 2 is a section through a modified embodiment, and

FIG. 3 is a section through a further embodiment of a device.

In the drawing, similar elements are given the same reference numerals in the different figures.

A device is shown in diametrical section in FIG. 1 of the attached drawing, comprising the following parts: coil 1, core of mild iron 2, permanent magnet 3, flexible blade 4, contacts 5, screw 6, coil 7, interconnecting thread 8, terminals of the coils 9.

The reversible key has three terminals: a, c (centre) and b, and two stable positions:

(1) Position 1, when the terminal a is,. connected to terminal c;

(2) Position II, when terminal b is connected to terminal c.

The position represented in the drawing is not a steady one.

From the constructive point of view the Polarized Bistable Interrupter for Remote Control consists of:

(1) two coils with mild iron cores (or the equivalent from the point of view of magnetic behavior) held by screws corresponding to contacts a and b;

(2) a flexible, metallic blade (for instance of phosphor bronze) containing in its central part two cores ringed by permanent magnets, situated side by side with the flexible blade. Inside these ringed cores there are, on both sides of the blade, the contact elements corresponding to terminal c.

The principle of operation of the device is the following: the two exciting coils are connected in a manner such that, when both are traversed by a uni-directional current, they maintain on theinternal surfaces of the electromagnets the same polarity, that is, either both north pole faces or both south pole faces, according to the direction of the uni-directions, current used. In this way the ringed cores described hereinbefore will be simultaneously submitted to two mechanical effects: one of attraction (through an electric magnet) and one of repulsion (by the other), causing their displacement in the sense of closing one of the electric contacts; this will signify the obtention of one of the stable positions, seeing that, even if the current which causes this displacement should cease to flow, the magnetic, permanent properties will maintain the device in this stable position; it should be noted that the contact pressure is guaranteed by the power of magnetic attraction. Should the uni-directional current flow in an opposite direction, there would be obtained, by analogy, the second stable position.

It is worth emphasizing that it is possible to change from one stable position to another, solely through an impulse of a uni-directional current, it not being necessary, therefore, for the coils to continue being activated.

On the other hand, the following should be observed:

(1) The permanent magnetic elements on the flexible blade may have other forms and may be placed in other ways, the same principle being maintained;

(2) Instead of the flexible blade, equivalent systems might be used, such as, for instance, helicoidal springs;

(3) It is possible to construct the device, placing the permanent magnets in juxtaposition with the surfaces with the same polarity; v

(4) The same device may be constructed without one of the two coils described above;

(5 In lieu of guaranteeing the contact pressure through the force of magnetic attraction of the permanent magnet, these need only' exist to bring about the lack of 'equalibrium of a tensioned flexible blade through its central part or flexed at. its extremities so that the contact pressure may be guaranteed by the pressure of the blade itself. This lack of equilibrium signifies in the device the change from one stable position to another;

(6) The uni-directional current previously cited, in the case of an alternating" current being available, will be obtained by means of rectification; if direct current is avail able, as for instance from the batteries af automobiles, there will be no need for rectification.

The device described above may vary somewhat in regard to its constructive part and its principle of operation, maintaining, however, the same utilization.

Amongst others, the following are the possibilities of these variations:

(1) As regards the method of action of the coil, the electric uni-directional current which traverses the coil in one direction or another may drive a fixed or movable part as indicated in FIG. 2, wherein the component parts are identifiable as in FIG. 1.

(2) As regards the nature of the cores of the coil, this may be constituted by a permanent magnet or by mild steel or its equivalent from the point of view of its magnetic behaviour. In the case of the coil acting on a permanent magnet, its action may be that, due to magnetic induction, or may be such to the provoke the inversion of the polarity of the permanent magnet.

(3) As regards the nature of the pressure of contact of the electrical terminals of the device, this may be obtained either through the power of magnetic attraction, or by power produced by an elastic element, as hereinafter explained.

(4) As regards the nature of the fixed elements, these may also be constituted by permanent magnets or by mild iron, but it is important to emphasize that between the fixed and movable elements at least one of these will be a permanent magnet.

As regards the number of fixed elements, normally these would be two in number, usually laterally placed; nevertheless, one of them may be eliminated.

(6) As regards the permanent magnets, these may be constituted by one sole piece, or by groups of pieces, placed in juxtaposition by the surfaces of the same polarity, or not.

Evidently these variations, conveniently associated, produce many other variation. All the executable combinations are considered as variants of the device above described.

As regards the working of all these variants, this is always based on the inner-action between the existing magnetic poles and others created or modified by magnetic effects of suitable uni-directional currents.

An embodiment of a device which uses this inter-action, which device is not includable in the previous variants, is that which follows: a permanent magnet, transversally placed in a magnetic field produced by a coil traversed by a uni-directional current, as shown in FIG. 3, remains subject to a binary action, producing a movement of rotation in a movable element, which causes the opening or closing of contacts. Through mechanical means there is effected two stable positions and the device passes from one to the other, by simple inversion of the direction of the uni-directional current of the exciting coil. Contacts may be made by means of brushes, which may be placed in the movable or fixed element (in FIG. 3 the brush is in the fixed element), or, further, by means of mercury contacts.

It should be noted that all the devices cited use control in CC or CA rectified (uni-directional).

In FIG. 3, of the attached drawings, in a more detailed fashion, the component parts are the following: coil 1, brush 2, movable element 3, permanent magnet 4, movable contact 5, brush spring 6, fixed element 7, contact terminals 8 and coil terminals 9.

We claim:

1. A bistable, polarized, remote control switch comprising two coils, supply means to apply an excitation voltage to said coils, cores of mild iron associated with said coils, means holding the cores and coils together and including ends constituting contact points connected to said supply means, a displaceable switch blade between the contact points, coaxial tubular permanent magnets placed sideby-side with opposite polarities encircling the contact points and associated with said cores, said blade being in between said permanent magnets and contact points.

2. A switch as claimed in claim 1 comprising helicoidal springs centering the blade between said contact points.

3. A switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said switch blade is a flexibel blade.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS LEE T. HIX, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 335-81, 

